Receptacle for photographic prints and negatives



Oct. 18, 1960 v. R. PIERONEK ET AL 2,956,726

RECEPTACLE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS AND NEGATIVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 18, 1958 Paul A. Fritsche ValenfineRPieronelc INVENTORS %ZMZ9 Oct. 18, 1960 2,956,726

RECEFTACLE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS AND NEGATIVES V. R. PIERONEK El" AL Filed June 18, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Paul A. Fri ische Valentine R.Pieronek INVENTORS BY AM United States Patent-O RECEPTACLE FOR PHOTOGRAPHICPRINTS AND NEGATIVES Valentine R. Pieronek and Paul A. Fritsche, Rochester,

N.Y assignors to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N.Y'., a corporation of New- Jersey Filed June 18, 1958, Ser. No. 742,857

1 Claim. (Cl. 229,'-72) This invention relates generally to receptacles, and more specifically to an improved receptacle for photographic prints and negatives.

There exists a need in the photofinishing industry, particularly in connection with the development and printing of photographs: for customers, for an: improved receptacle for delivering the developed films and prints to the customer. It is old in this respect to use a receptacle such as an envelope embodying a pair of spaced apart pockets in which't-he negatives may be positioned-in one pocket and the prints disposed inthe other pocket. To our knowledge, however, noneof the envelopes has a print compartment which is adapted to form a wallet thereby providing a convenient receptacle for protecting the prints from smudges, scratches, creases, or any other damage that prints are normally susceptible to when they are inserted without any type of protective covering into a customers pocket or billfold.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved receptacle for photofinishers having one compartment for receiving negatives, and a second compartment for receiving prints in which the second compartment is adapted to form a wallet for conveniently and protectively housing the prints for ready insertion in the customers pocket or billfold.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved receptacle for photographic negatives and prints that may be formed from a single blank of material.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved receptacle for photofinishers that is of simple design and construction, thoroughly reliable, and economical to manufacture.

One more object of this invention is the provision of an improved receptacle for photofinishers having a print envelope provided with compartments for receiving prints of varying sizes and confining the prints for limited movement within the compartments.

Objects and advantages other than those set forth above will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a single blank from which the receptacle of this invention is formed;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the receptacle formed from the single blank of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modification of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the receptacle formed from the single blank of Fig. 3.

As shown in the drawings, the single blanks 1, 2 appearing in Figs. 1 and 3 respectively may be made from a continuous length of sheet material of suitable strong paper, plastic, fiberboard or equivalent sheet material customarily used for making mailing receptacles. The blank 1 is precut and prescored to form panels 3, 4, 5 and 6. A perforated line 7 is provided at the junction of the panels 4, 5. The panels 4, 5 are further provided with marginal portions 8, 9 respectively which are adapted to be folded inwardly along fold lines 11, 12 in parallel overlapping relationship with their respective panels 4, 5. The panels 3, 4 are separated from one another by" a fold line 13, and the panels 5, 6 are separated from one another by fold line 14. The panels 3, 6 may be folded in overlapping engagement with the complementary marginal portions 8, 9 and maybe secured thereto by' a suitable adhesive carried by the marginal portions to form negative and print compartments 7 15, 16- respectively asjseen in Fig. 2. If desired, the ad hesive may be placed along the edges of the panels 3, 6 instead of on the marginal portions 8, 9. Furthermore, if preferred, the panels 3, 6 may in the first instance be folded along the respective fold lines 13, 14 in overlap: ping engagement with the panels 4, 6 and the marginal portions 8, 9 folded over the edges of the panels 3, 6 and secured thereto by a suitable adhesive. A similarconstruction is shown in Fig. 4 which discloses anotherembodiment of the invention. The panel 3' is provided with a recessed edge 17 which is adapted in the assembled position to facilitate the insertion of negatives into the negative compartment 15. The panel 4 is further provided with a flap portion 18 which may be folded along a fold line 19 over the entrance of the negative compartment 15 after the negative compartment has been separated from the print compartment 16 along'the perforated line 7. This forms a handy envelope for: the negativeswhi'ch-the-customer may place in a file or conveniently mail to the photofinisher for reprints. The panels 5, 6 of the print compartment 16 have a central longitudinally extending score line 21 extending completely across the panels 5, 6 from one end to the other intermediate the sides thereof. The panel 6 further has a recessed edge 22 similar to the recessed edge 17 and a pair of elliptical slots 23 which are shown inclined with respect to the perforated line 7. The print compartment 16 receives prints 24, only one of which is shown, within the slots 23 which confine the prints and prevent unnecessary movement thereof. A portion of each print 24 protrudes from the slot 13 to facilitate insertion therein and removal of the print therefrom. Prints of a size too large to fit within a slot 23 may be inserted in the space between the panels 5, 6 which forms a large pocket extending across the entire width of the compartment 16. After the prints 24 have been placed in the print compartment 16, it may be folded along the center score line 21 to form a protective wallet for the prints 24 which may be inserted by the customer in a pocket or billfold. The wallet conveniently protects the prints from damage resulting from creasing, smudging, bending, or the like.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the parts of the single blank 2 that are similar to corresponding parts of blank 1 are designated by the same numerals primed. The print panel 25 of blank 2 is of slightly difierent form from the corresponding print panel 6 of Fig. l. The elliptical slots 23 are eliminated, and the panel 25 is precut to provide a pair of ears 26 which merge to form a small lip or flap 27. The flap 27 is provided with an adhesive which secures the flap 27 and hence the panel 25 to panel 5' when the panel 25 is folded over along the fold line 14' into overlapping engagement with panel 5'. The marginal portions 9' are then folded over the edges of the panel 25 and secured thereto by adhesive as seen in Fig. 4. The resulting print compartment 28 provides two pockets for receiving the prints 24, and as a result of the slanted edge of each ear 26, a portion of each print 24' protrudes from the pocket to facilitate insertion therein and removal of the print therefrom.

In the practical application of this invention, a photofinisher, after developing and printing the photographs for a customer, would place the negatives in the negative compartment 15, 15 and the prints in the print compartment 16, 28 respectively depending upon which type of receptacle is being used and would then fold the compartments in overlapping relation along the perforated line 7, 7'. The folded receptacle is sent to the customer who upon receipt thereof separates the negative and print compartments along the perforated line 7, 7. The customer may then place the negative compartment 15, 15' in a suitable file, and when he desires, may fold the flap 18, 18' over to form an envelope for mailing the negatives to a photofinisher for reprints. The print compartment 16, 28 may be folded along the center score line 21, 21, to form a wallet which may be placed in the customers pocket or billfold.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claim.

We claim:

In a receptacle for photographic prints and negatives, the combination of: a unitary blank forming first, second, third and fourth panels, said first and second panels having an adjoining first fold line, said third and fourth panels having an adjoining second fold line, said second and third panels having an adjoining perforated line and said fourth panel having a pair of spaced apart ears merging to form a lip in which only said lip is provided with an adhesive; marginal portions provided by said second panel adapted to secure said first panel to said second panel when said first panel is folded along said first fold line in overlapping relation with second panel to form a negative compartment for receiving negatives; marginal portions provided by said third panel adapted in cooperation with said tip to secure said fourth panel to said third panel when said fourth panel is folded along said second fold line in overlapping relation With said third panel, said ears in this position cooperating with said third panel to form a print compartment having a pair of adjacent, spaced apart pockets for receiving prints; a flap formed by said second panel adapted when folded over the entrance of said negative compartment to form an envelope when said negative compaztrnent is separated from said print compartment along said perforated line; and said third and fourth panels further having a scored line transverse to said perforated line and extending completely across said third and fourth panels intermediate the sides of said third and fourth panels and passing between said pockets whereby said print compartment may be folded therealong to form a protective wallet for the prints.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 861,901 Roeder et al July 30, 1907 1,307,278 Susersky June 17, 1919 2,759,658 Sawdon Aug. 21, 1956 2,829,818 Alsop Apr. 8, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 470,673 Great Britain Aug. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 2356, 726 October 18 1960 Valentine R. Pieronek et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column i line 6 for tip" read lip Signed and sealed this 25th day 0f April 1961,

(SEAL) Attelt:

ERNEST We SWIDER I DAVID L, LADD Attelting Oficer Commissioner of Patents 

